On the penultimate day of our June competition, I am pleased to be able to feature another two entries. The first is from Alison Galilian, who was one of the winners in our 2017 Travel Highlights Competition.

Read and enjoy her travel story ​Terror in the Desert - Egypt 1991here.

Alison GalilianI was born and brought up in Scotland, but left in my early twenties. I've worked and travelled in Greece, Turkey, Spain, Poland, Israel, Egypt, most of Asia, Australia and Africa. I returned to Israel in 1998 where I took up a post as Senior Teacher at the British Council in Tel Aviv - with occasional stints at the British Council in Egypt and Tanzania. I love travel - the more adventurous the better, but since the birth of my daughter in 2008, I have had to settle down and become an armchair traveller instead! I currently live in rural Northumberland with my husband, daughter and two rescue cats.

That is one travel adventure I am sure nobody would like to have. Absolutely scary tale.

Reply

Alison

30/6/2018 06:24:36 pm

I had no idea the soldiers were the good guys all along Syd! They were under orders to ensure that any travellers stuck in a potentially volatile situation were protected, which is why I was taken out the desert and escorted to a safe place. I think the Egyptian government were worried that if any tourists were caught up in political troubles that ut would affect their much needed tourism. They were also under orders not to disclose details of the troubles at the time - which is why I wasn't told what was going on.

Reply

Syd Blackwell

2/7/2018 03:46:31 pm

I was once on a bus in southern Malaysia during a period of troubles with rebels. The bus was stopped. Unfriendly soldiers with guns moved in. A couple of locals were dragged off. We were waved away. There is nothing calming about a gun waved in your face. Your story was much, much more troublesome during the time it was happening.